Why Killmonger Is the Best Villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

There’s a lot to love about Black Panther. It’s got amazing production design, incredible costumes, awesome visuals, and an unforgettable soundtrack. But right now we’re most fixated on the film’s charismatic and fascinating villain, Erik “Killmonger” Stevens. Played in the film by Michael B. Jordan, he nearly steals the film right out from under its title character with his intense glares, provocative monologues, and enormous muscles. (Seriously, the dude is jacked; Steve Rogers would be jealous.) People often talk about a “villain problem” at Marvel; but that’s definitely not the case here.

Instead, Killmonger is the best villain in Marvel history (even if his name is kind of silly). In the video essay above, ScreenCrush’s Ryan Arey explains why, running down the elements that make a great movie villain, noting which previous Marvel villains were missing what crucial parts, and why Killmonger tops them all (again, except in the name department).

If you enjoyed our Killmonger video and are craving more comic-book content, check out our videos on Avengers: Infinity War and Thor: Ragnarok below, plus a look at some of the coolest Easter eggs and secrets hidden in Black Panther. Andthere’s tons more over at ScreenCrush’s YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to catch all our future episodes. And if you want more Black Panther, we’ve got that too, including an in-depth review, and an analysis of what the film’s post-credits scenes mean for the future of Marvel.